Analysis | Twenty20’s Kochi Corporation dreams & expansion plans hit for a six

Kochi: A decade after it stormed Kerala’s local body elections as an anti-establishment disruptor, the Kitex Group-backed Twenty20 has encountered its first serious electoral pushback. The latest local body polls delivered a sobering verdict on the corporate-backed political experiment, exposing both the resilience and the limits of its model as rivals regrouped to blunt its advance.

The most telling battle unfolded in Kizhakkambalam, the party’s headquarters and ideological showcase. While Twenty20 retained control of the panchayat for a third consecutive term, the victory came at a cost. For the first time, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF), battered by Twenty20 in previous elections, quietly set aside rivalries. Operating in what insiders described as “stealth mode,” the two fronts stitched together an informal tactical understanding, fielding candidates in a manner designed to avoid three-cornered contests that had earlier handed Twenty20 sweeping wins.

The strategy succeeded in denting the Twenty20’s dominance. From an overwhelming 18 of 19 seats in 2020, Twenty20’s tally in Kizhakkambalam fell to 14 of the 21 wards this time, signalling erosion within what was once considered an impregnable fortress.

Beyond its headquarters, the reversal was sharper. Twenty20 lost its majority in both Kunnathunadu and Mazhuvannoor panchayats, areas it had comfortably controlled since 2020. In Mazhuvannoor, its strength dropped from 13 of 19 seats to 10 of 21, falling short of a simple majority. In Kunnathunadu, the slide was more decisive, from 11 of 18 seats to just nine of 21, allowing the UDF to regain control of the panchayat with 11 seats.

The lone rural bright spot was Aikkaranadu, where Twenty20 defied the Opposition’s strategies and registered a clean sweep, winning all 16 wards, just like its 2020 performance when it secured all 14 seats.

While the party opened its account in the Thrikkakara municipality by winning one seat, it failed to win any seats in the Tripunithura municipality.

Twenty20 retained its block division wins in Vazhakkulam and Vengola, and picked up scattered seats across panchayats like Poothrikka (7), Vadavucode-Puthencruz (6), Thiruvaniyoor (9), and Vengola (6). It also secured two seats in the Manakkad panchayat in Thodupuzha.

If the rural verdict was mixed, Twenty20’s much-hyped foray into Kochi Corporation politics ended in near-total rejection. Contesting 56 divisions, the party failed to make an impact anywhere, polling around 9,400 votes in total. In 15 divisions, its vote count did not even reach three digits. The lowest point came in Island North, where it secured just five votes, followed by Island South with 10.

Even its strongest showings underscored its marginality in the city. In Chalikkavattom, where it polled its highest tally of 483 votes, the party still finished last. In divisions such as Nazreth and Fort Kochi Veli, it edged past the BJP or BDJS but remained far from contention.

Reacting to the results, Twenty20 president Sabu M Jacob blamed what he termed an “unholy alliance” of rivals, arguing that the party had fought alone against a collective of nearly 25 parties. “The people of Kizhakkambalam rejected this alliance formed solely to defeat Twenty20. We secured a good vote share wherever we contested,” he said, adding that the party’s state committee would decide the way forward.

In 2015 and 2020, Twenty20 thrived as an uncontained disruptor. In 2025, it remains relevant, but no longer unchecked.